Being a new young parent, there are many changes in my life. Therefore, I’ve been surviving by doing small things to take care of myself. Now more than ever I need to think about myself and treat myself with kindness. Honestly, we all need to be mindful of our own mental health and do more for ourselves. Here is my list of self-care practices that I do (as frequently as I can with a 4-month-old son) that I’m sure will help anyone be kinder to themselves.
*Disclaimer: You might notice some affiliate links which will take you to some recommended products that I use for self-care. This means if you use my links I could earn a small commission. Feel free to use or not use my links. I appreciate you either way!*
1- Take a Shower
Who doesn’t love feeling clean? After a stressful, long day, or period of time where you’ve been feeling stuck, stepping into the shower is one of the best feelings ever. I’m all for being environmentally conscious, yet when I take a self-care shower (after several days- that’s the life with a baby) they are longer than a typical shower.
This is because I take my time to clean myself and give myself the Hygenic attention I need. I spent my whole pregnancy not grooming so that first shaving session made me feel like a new person! One of my favorite things to do while showering is exfoliating using a sugar scrub. While I enjoy the Dove scents I want to try the Tree Hut brand with exfoliating gloves for some extra skincare.
2- Have a Bath
I know, I just mentioned taking a shower. But anyone who has taken the time to set the mood with a nice warm bath with maybe some Epson salts will know that relaxing feeling once you lay back in the water and enjoy that moment to yourself. If you have some time, bring out those candles, a little snack, and something to watch as you soak. Be mindful that you’d have to add more warm water the longer you’re in there but it’s doable and you deserve it!
3- Watch Your Favorite Movie or TV Show
Sitting down with a few snacks, your favorite movie, and nowhere to be, sounds like an ideal time to me. With a busy stressful life you might not have time to binge a show but just watching one episode can be a nice reward. As for your favorite movie, that serotonin boost is nice as you rewatch your favorite moments.
My boyfriend doesn’t get it but I spent the first month postpartum rewatching Encanto while with our newborn. I couldn’t get enough of the soundtrack plus it was a great way to get through the tough newborn phase. Love me some Encanto.
4- Listen to your Favorite music
This one seems obvious to me. I listen to music all the time and I’m sure most of us do as well. But what I am suggesting is to listen to music without it being in the background. Sure listening while cleaning helps me get things done but I’m not relaxing. Go outside or take a walk and listen to music.
I often go long periods of time without listening to music so once I press play on a song it almost feels like I’m listening to music for the first time. I sometimes get the urge to listen to whole albums or soundtracks without doing anything else to really listen to them. There was a period of time when I drove around a lot and while driving stresses me out, listening to my favorite songs helped calm my anxiety and made driving a little less dreadful.
5- Practice Journaling
If you know me, you would know that I’ve been advocating journaling for years! Personally, I don’t do it as much as I’d like to and I’ve never been consistent with it but that isn’t the point. Being able to write down everything that comes to mind that brings you joy or stresses you out or whatever feelings you might have at the time can be relaxing and overall beneficial to your mental health.
People overcomplicate it, but you only really need something to write on/with and just do it. Our minds weren’t made to keep so many thoughts so do yourself a favor and write them down or type them in an online journal or something. No one has to read it and honestly, you don’t either.
You can write down negative thoughts and just delete or burn/throw away the pages. One of the best things about journaling is that it does not matter what you use! You can use nice hardcover journals or basic spiral notebooks to do the same job. In some cases, you could even buy a good-looking notebook for a great price! I can’t say enough about journaling. It is very therapeutic and I recommend it to everybody.
6- Treat yourself to a Nap
First of all who doesn’t like to nap? I feel like most people are aware of naps and how they can benefit but often fail to nap efficiently. Especially during postpartum, I had to just let my body guide me on how long to nap while being interrupted often having to wake up and feed my baby. The whole “sleep while your baby is sleeping” is too difficult so I could only try my best and from that experience, I can tell you that the days I took more naps were better than the days I tried to stay up more.
Sleep is very important. It’s critical to keep your overall health in check. I would not have survived without naps and even now when my baby wakes me up at 4 am and wouldn’t sleep for an hour, I might need a nap to hold me over. My point, Listen. To. Your. Body.
7- Eat your Favorite food
Food. Another necessity of life. Whether your favorite food is healthy or not doesn’t matter. Enjoy the meal/snack. In moderation, it’s nice to treat yourself. Go out to your favorite restaurant or make a picnic out of it. Remember the point is to be kind to yourself.
8- Do a Face mask
I am guilty of neglecting my skin. I’ve probably only done a handful of masks but I know when I put aside some time to wash my face and do a mask makes me feel good about myself. Just a small thing to remind me to take care of myself. At the current moment, I think I have 5 sheet face masks ready to be used. I prefer sheet masks because it’s easier to clean up but there are other options to try. I think this is a fun relaxing activity to try and I often gift face masks because I know we can all use some mini gifts like that.
9- Practice Meditation
This is one I want to implement more into my life because it can help with mindfulness. If there’s one thing I constantly worry about it’s being present. It’s so easy to participate in passive actions such as binge-watching all day, mind scrolling, or endless YouTube videos. When you take a moment to log off and lock your phone you realize all of the time you’ve wasted.
There are so many ways to meditate. At home or the park. Guided or solo. Long or short sessions. Personally, I will be trying some guided meditation. I want to apply it to my morning and/or night routine to help me reflect and relax more.
10- Take a walk
This is great because you can not only walk to relax but also be fit. Obviously, walking won’t make you lose weight but it’ll get your blood pumping and muscles used. I love walking with my dog at the park. My nearby park was wonderful and peaceful. I would put on some good music and either walk the track or the trail. It can be a great idea to do with family or friends too. I used to go with my best friend weekly and caught up on each other’s lives. It’s free, mindful, and does your body good!
11- Have your Favorite drink
I just ordered myself a decaf iced coffee from Dunkin this morning. I haven’t had one since before my pregnancy. We ran out of decaf at home and decided to treat myself. It needed some creamer which I had but it was good. While I sipped away I felt just a little bit more like myself again, indulging in my favorite drink while getting things done. Of course, there are so many options for this. Rather than coffee, your favorite drink might be smoothies or tea or hot chocolate, etc. I would suggest something non-alcoholic as you are trying to make yourself feel good not eventually tipsy or hungover. Grab your drink of choice and sip away. Take your time and maybe even sit outside with a good book while you’re at it.
12- Read a book
Great segue huh? Honestly, this is one of the best ways to practice self-care. You don’t even have to choose a book that is self-help. While those are okay options, pick a book you actually want to read. I remember that feeling when you sit down with a book and spend hours reading it. It’s honestly an amazing feeling and if you haven’t experienced it, you should. I don’t have ample time to sit for hours anymore but even if it’s just for ten minutes I appreciate the moment of silence of my own thoughts to focus on reading.
13- Go out! Even if it is just a car ride
These days the only real-time I’m by myself is when I go out on a quick errand. It’s great because I can pick any song I like and have it as loud as I want it. I love getting in my car and belting lyrics. It’s the only place I can do it without feeling embarrassed. I also talk to myself about life or driving which I know sounds weird but before I had my son I used to talk to myself all the time. Now I’m never alone so it’s different.
I used to drive a lot and by myself too. These days I hardly ever go out because I’m taking care of and feeding my son all day. But every once in a while I manage to get him down for a nap and book it out the door. I go do errands such as grocery shop, pick up food, or maybe even send return packages to the Post office. They might not be long car rides but I appreciate them.
14- Talk/spend time with a loved one -preferably somewhere not inside the house you’ve been stuck in
Because I moved out and my life revolves around my son, I don’t see my family or friends as much as they too are far and busy working and such. Because of this, I try to video call them often or even invite them over.
Video calls are great because they can be spontaneous or planned, long or short calls. Plus on a good day, I can call several people at once! This could get exhausting because I am with my son at the time but it’s nice to talk to people without having to text and wait for replies. Sometimes talking is the best therapeutic practice.
15- Relax and Reflect
Even if it feels difficult to do you should find time to relax and reflect. Be present with how your life is right now and be proud of how far you’ve come. This is a reminder of why you deserve to be kind to yourself. Sometimes spending time doing nothing but thinking of yourself in a positive light is the most relaxing thing to do.
My point has been to provide ideas for you to try and maybe even combine for better results. You could after a shower or a bath, make your favorite drink and food, put on a mask, set some nice background music, take out a good book, sit outside and just enjoy it all. There are many ways to combine these.
Remember to do the things you enjoy even if they’re small. It’s good to do these things to feel more in touch with yourself. I’m sure there are more things you could do in addition to these but I built this list as an inspiration for self-care, so you’ll want to do things for yourself and think deeply about your needs. At the end of the day, you are going to live the life you choose so it’s best that you live it for yourself.